Egyptian cinema: 20 timeless lines fans will never forget

Egyptians have been using this one ever since Ismael Yassin said it to a policeman in the comedy movie Ibn Hamidu in1957.

This is from a 1988 comedy film titled Batal min Waraq  (paper-hero). In the film, Mamdouh Abd El-Aleem plays the role of a young novelist who discovers a bomb on the train he's aboard. 

El-Aleem freaks out and tells the police that the person that planted the bomb doesn't know how to defuse it. 

This famous line is from the 1969 film Shei' Min al-Khawf  (Some Share of Fear), where a mob of villagers surrounds the house of the village tyrant and condemn his forced marriage to one of the women.  

These hilariously epic lines from the 1985 film Al Keif, are everything.  

Many poets must have jumped off a cliff after hearing the words! :D 

In the 1973 comedy Al Bahth an Fedeeha (Looking for a Scandal), a girl awakens only to find a man in her room. She screams: "Groom!"

Her father shows up and proclaims that the man now has to marry her. The man, naturally, runs away and the father goes after him, at which point the girl implores her father: "Shoot him, but don't hurt him, dad!" 

Just a cheeky fellow pestering a passer-by by repeating the phrase: "There is nothing more valuable than one's honor". 

This classic is from the 1958 film, Ahebbak ya Hassan  (I love you, Hassan). 

"The government doesn't have an arm to be twisted," i.e. you can never exert pressure on the authorities. This line is used by the minister of interior while demanding the release of the hostages in the 1992 comedy Al Irhab wel Kabab (Terrorism and Kebab).

Another line from the 1957 comedy picture Ibn Hamidu. 

Think men don't yield? Well not in this film. All it took for Hanafi to back down were his wife's persistent objections. 

Good ol' classic comedy.  

"Why are you closing the door ya Ma3alem?!"

"We're going to dance!"  

From the classic 1984 film, El forn (The bakery).

If someone ever picks on you because of your appearance, here's how you should respond: "What's ugly can never become pretty, and what stinks can never smell so sweet." 

This line is from Ismail Yassin's epic comedy film, Ismail Yassine fil Ustul (Ismail Yassine in the Navy), released in 1957. 

Just repeat this: "I'm not short, I'm just a tall klutz" from the 1968 comedy film, Motarda Gharameya (Romantic Chase). 

We've been saying this one since then! :D 

Another line from Ismail Yassine fil Ustul (Ismail Yassin in the Navy). This one is inspired by a scene where a navy senior is going over a junior's tasks, and instead of giving a proper answer, he ends up mumbling endlessly. 

From the 1982 film, El 3ar  (Shame): 

"Tell me, is Hasheesh halal or haram?"
"If it's halal, we consume it, if it's haram, we will *burn* it anyway!" 

Thug life!

This famous line is from the 1968 film Ard al-Nifaq  (The land of hypocrisy). 

Fouad el-Mohandes, playing the role of a hard-working employee, goes to a shop that sells "morals" in the form of potions. He gets curious and asks: "Which one of these is the best seller?" To which the salesman responds: "Hypocrisy ... most people want hypocrisy." 

In this scene from the 1958 romantic film Sayedat Al-Qasr (The Lady of the Palace), Stephan Rosti asks a lady to dance with him, and the resulting misunderstanding is one that Egyptians remember till this day for its sheer hilarity. 

Rosti: Madam, may I have this dance?

Fardous Mohamed (not realizing he wanted to dance with her): No one is stopping you my brother, knock yourself out.

Rosti (sarcastically): OK, just a minute, I'll wrap a scarf on my waist (like belly dancers do) and come back to you. 

This line is from Ahmed Zaki's film Ded el Hokoma (Against the Government), released in 1992. 

Playing an attorney, Zaki delivers a seminal speech in which he condemns corruption, negligence, and disregard for human-life. 

He asserts that corruption doesn't spare anyone, not even him, and that by being silent about it, everyone becomes complicit. 

From Assal Eswed (Black honey), a 2010 Egyptian comedy film. 

"I'm an Egyptian citizen and I have Egyptian rights!"

So here, Masri, an Egyptian-American, is arguing with a policeman that the latter has no right to delete photos he took in Egypt. 

The scene highlights the bitter-sweet experience of repatriated Egyptians.

Another hilarious yet wise line from El Nazer (The Principal): "Don't let your physique deceive you."

In this scene, an outlaw is teaching his helpless friend how to defend himself against bullies.  

Remember this line! 

"Bless us with some plentiful work, Oh God" from the 1958 romantic comedy film Share' al Hob (Love Street). 

Here, the hilarious actor, Abdel Salam Al Nabulsy, is praying to God to provide him with some work to stop him from marrying his rich neighbor. 

From the 1961 film, Antara Ibn Shaddad, which tells the story of a famous pre-Islamic era Arab poet. 

Those who have seen the movie will remember the spoiled rich man calling on his servant every now and asking for his perfume.